ISLAMABAD: The three-day Balochistan Grand Tourism Festival opened at Lok Virsa in Islamabad on Friday, aiming to promote the province’s cultural heritage and tourism potential.
Organised by the Balochistan Department of Tourism and Culture in collaboration with the Ministry of Tourism and Culture and the Pakistan Tourism Development Corporation (PTDC), the festival seeks to project a positive image of the province across Pakistan and abroad.
Chief Minister Mir Sarfraz Bugti is scheduled to inaugurate the event, while Governor Sheikh Jafar Khan Mandokhail will serve as guest of honour at the closing ceremony.
The festival features panel discussions, photo and art exhibitions, handicraft displays, folk music, and traditional dance performances. Organisers plan similar events in Quetta, Gwadar, and Karachi to promote domestic tourism and showcase Balochistan’s cultural diversity.
Speaking at a press conference at the National Press Club, Balochistan Parliamentary Secretary for Tourism and Culture Zareen Magsi said the event marks the first time such a large-scale festival has been organised at Lok Virsa. She said the initiative would “promote and showcase the province’s rich culture to the world.”
Magsi described Balochistan as a land of cultural and natural diversity, citing sites such as the Hinglaj Mata Temple, Mulla Chotok springs, and the Gwadar coastline. She said folk and theatre artists would depict the region’s traditions through live performances during the festival.
Addressing security concerns, Magsi said unrest was confined to a few areas and that the overall situation was improving, noting that the annual Hindu pilgrimage to Hinglaj Mata Temple took place peacefully this year.
Secretary Tourism Balochistan Sohail-ur-Rehman said the event was the 39th organised under the department’s annual budget. He added that the government’s role was to design policies and provide infrastructure, while the festival’s main goal was to project Balochistan’s “positive and progressive image” both nationally and internationally.
Also Read: Books of Rs. 6 million worth sold in Kech cultural festival
The festival is open to the public and aims to offer visitors a glimpse into the art, music, and cultural richness of Pakistan’s largest province.
